Laura
12-13-2007, 05:22 PM
http://www.newsday.com/news/local/wire/newyork/ny-bc-ny--driversofdisabled1213dec12,0,3656382.story
Striking drivers for New York's disabled, bus firms stop talking
By VERENA DOBNIK | Associated Press Writer
1:15 AM EST, December 13, 2007
NEW YORK
Contract talks between striking van drivers and companies that provide public transportation for thousands of disabled people have been suspended without a schedule for further negotiations.
As the strike continued Thursday, many disabled and chronically ill residents faced a fourth day of difficulties getting to medical offices and other places. But the companies' chief negotiator said progress had been made in a session Wednesday.
"The lines of communication will remain open," negotiator Jeff Pollack said, encouraging the drivers' union to resume talks. He was working on behalf of the Paratransit Operators Coalition, which represents four of the 14 companies hired to provide the van service for the Metropolitan Transportation Authority.
The drivers said in a statement, "The strike continues."
The MTA, which runs the city's public bus and subway system, is not involved in the negotiations.
The four companies are among the city's Access-A-Ride providers, which serve riders who cannot use regular public transit. As many as 20,000 riders use the service each weekday, and about 8,000 riders are affected by the strike.
Transit officials have arranged other transportation, including private carriers, and have provided vouchers for taxis or car services. But the alternatives could not make up for all the canceled rides.
"This strike is having a severe impact on people with disabilities throughout the city," said Michael Harris, a 23-year-old in a wheelchair who directs the Disabled Riders Coalition, an advocacy group.
He said the strike has been especially hard on those in urgent need of medical care. A Brooklyn man in his 70s who had a chemotherapy appointment kept calling van dispatchers but could not get through for hours, Harris said. The man finally paid for a private car service to keep his appointment.
A federal negotiator stepped in early Wednesday, when talks resumed between the drivers union and the companies' coalition. The mediator entered the talks at a Queens hotel after Gov. Eliot Spitzer got involved.
The Para Transit Drivers and Mechanics of the Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1181-1061, which has 1,500 members, rejected a contract offer several months ago, primarily over issues of health care premiums and wages.
In their previous contract, drivers paid their premiums for 40 weeks of the year, with the companies paying for the other 12 weeks. The proposed contract would have the drivers paying premiums for the entire year, said Tommy Mullins, a union vice president.
Striking drivers for New York's disabled, bus firms stop talking
By VERENA DOBNIK | Associated Press Writer
1:15 AM EST, December 13, 2007
NEW YORK
Contract talks between striking van drivers and companies that provide public transportation for thousands of disabled people have been suspended without a schedule for further negotiations.
As the strike continued Thursday, many disabled and chronically ill residents faced a fourth day of difficulties getting to medical offices and other places. But the companies' chief negotiator said progress had been made in a session Wednesday.
"The lines of communication will remain open," negotiator Jeff Pollack said, encouraging the drivers' union to resume talks. He was working on behalf of the Paratransit Operators Coalition, which represents four of the 14 companies hired to provide the van service for the Metropolitan Transportation Authority.
The drivers said in a statement, "The strike continues."
The MTA, which runs the city's public bus and subway system, is not involved in the negotiations.
The four companies are among the city's Access-A-Ride providers, which serve riders who cannot use regular public transit. As many as 20,000 riders use the service each weekday, and about 8,000 riders are affected by the strike.
Transit officials have arranged other transportation, including private carriers, and have provided vouchers for taxis or car services. But the alternatives could not make up for all the canceled rides.
"This strike is having a severe impact on people with disabilities throughout the city," said Michael Harris, a 23-year-old in a wheelchair who directs the Disabled Riders Coalition, an advocacy group.
He said the strike has been especially hard on those in urgent need of medical care. A Brooklyn man in his 70s who had a chemotherapy appointment kept calling van dispatchers but could not get through for hours, Harris said. The man finally paid for a private car service to keep his appointment.
A federal negotiator stepped in early Wednesday, when talks resumed between the drivers union and the companies' coalition. The mediator entered the talks at a Queens hotel after Gov. Eliot Spitzer got involved.
The Para Transit Drivers and Mechanics of the Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1181-1061, which has 1,500 members, rejected a contract offer several months ago, primarily over issues of health care premiums and wages.
In their previous contract, drivers paid their premiums for 40 weeks of the year, with the companies paying for the other 12 weeks. The proposed contract would have the drivers paying premiums for the entire year, said Tommy Mullins, a union vice president.